A group of nuns is kicking against social norms by growing MARIJUANA at their convent - and selling it for medical purposes.

But their healthcare remedies are under threat thanks to removal from a popular online store.

The Sisters of the Valley are a sisterhood based in Merced, California who are not Catholic or traditionally religious, but consider themselves nuns.

The licensed medical marijuana growers grow the plants in accordance with lunar cycles and create organic health remedies to treat back pain , migraines and even hangovers.

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But even though the nuns - Sister Kate, whose real name is Christine Meeusen, and Sister Darcy, aka 24-year-old Darcy Johnson - have made money from the enterprise, they are now under threat after Etsy withdrew their shop from online.

Sister Darcy and Kate are the duo behind the business on their farm in California (Photo: Sisters of the Valley)

Another threat is coming from the California municipalities who are considering a cultivation ban that would make their enterprise illegal.

"We had a dream of living a simple life, making our medicines on a quiet farm, in a spiritual environment, and being self-sustaining," they explain on a GoFundMe site set up to raise money to help save their business.

Sisters of the Valley produces salves and tinctures from their medical marijuana farm (Photo: Sisters of the Valley)

"We worked toward that goal and just as the New Year began, we had a steady income from the store sales and a farmette to occupy."

According to the nuns, Etsy say they have removed the shop, which was earning £28,000 a month, because the sisters make health claims about their products, and it's meant their cashflow has been temporarily halted.

Sister Darcy helps to produce the salves and tinctures in accordance with lunar cycles (Photo: Sisters of the Valley)